Greg Cormier's Megadesk Is the Open Source Upgrade All IKEA Bekant Owners Should Consider

Greg Cormier has released a board for anyone who owns an IKEA Bekant motorised sit-stand desk but who finds the on-board controller a little lacking in functionality: the Megadesk, an AVR-based add-on.

"The Bekant is a relatively inexpensive motorized standing desk. It doesn't come with memory positions," Cormier explains of the problem Megadesk looks to solve. "I wanted to have memory positions for easily switching between various work positions. I also didn't want to be limited to just 2 positions."

Driven by a Microchip ATmega328P, the controller retains the core functionality of the original: Holding the up or down buttons moves the desk surface up or down, as you might expect. It's smarter than that, though: Megadesk allows the user to store multiple positions in memory, and return to those positions simply by tapping the up button a number of times corresponding to the memory position required.

The controller isn't a replacement for the original, though, but an add-on. "As I went through the process," Cormier recalls, "I realized the hardest part was designing the enclosure. 3D printing is a great option, but lacks that professional look, and limits the availability to those with printers. Additionally, getting custom membrane buttons that would look good was also extremely expensive. Simple push-buttons would take away from the look of the desk. By targeting the factory enclosure, it keeps the original look and robustness, while adding functionality."

The design files and source code for the Megadesk controller have been published to GitHub under the GNU General Public License 3, while pre-assembled boards are available from Cormier's Tindie store for $50.